(This story is sponsored by Blue Grouse Estate Winery.)

Vancouverites might not have to travel as far as they think to experience one of B.C’s most special vineyards. The award-winning Blue Grouse Estate Winery, in the heart of Vancouver Island, is a family-owned Cowichan Valley gem.

One of the first wineries in the area, Blue Grouse released its original commercial vintage back in 1990. Although it has been in operation for more than 25 years, the winery isn’t showing any signs of getting old. In fact, Blue Grouse is currently going through an evolution as it makes the transition to more sustainable practices and the production of organic wines.

Since taking ownership in 2012, the Brunner family has worked hard to modernize the winery with a number of upgrades to the vineyards and the property. That’s because the Blue Grouse philosophy is centred on the idea of stewardship, with the aim of leaving everything better than it was found. And this way of thinking extends to everything the family and their team do there.

The winery’s stunning new facility is a sight to behold and well worth a visit. The Tasting Room takes its inspiration from the winery’s namesake. The curved ceiling and roofline mimics the blue grouse’s head and neck, while the beautiful blue entrance represents its tail feathers.

But the property doesn’t just look the part. The Brunners worked with a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified  architect, Joe Chauncey, so that every facet of the facility was constructed with sustainable elements in mind, including the design, material selection, a closed-loop water system, geothermal heating and cooling, rainwater capture, and the protection and development of riparian zones.

The work in the vineyard is done as naturally as possible, which ensures the minimum impact to the environment and also prevents the wines from tasting manufactured.

Depending on weather conditions, the estate produces between 1,000 and 1,800 cases of the Blue Grouse label wine and an additional 3,000 cases under the Quill label. For the spring release of its latest vintages, the winery took the evolution even further with an update to its packaging. Look out for the new labels when you pick up your next bottle, available at various stores in Vancouver, including Legacy Liquor Store, Everything Wine, and JAK’s. You can also enjoy Blue Grouse at restaurants such as Mott 32, Kissa Tanto, and the Naam. For a full list of where to buy, visit the website.

But for those who want to be sure they don’t miss out, the Fan Club lets you choose a membership option so that you can start receiving the wine delivered directly to your door. Better still, there is no membership fee to join.

Blue Grouse Estate Winery is located at 2182 Lakeside Road in Duncan and open daily through September. To learn more about how Blue Grouse is evolving and leading the way in biodiverse, progressive, and eco-conscious winemaking, visit the website at www.bluegrouse.ca.